User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by
Roger Miller
a Audio Enthusiast

Date Reviewed: August 24, 2003

Bottom Line:

I have always been a fan of Jon Dahlquist. He produced fantastic products
in the 70s, and 80s. I still have a set of
D.Q. 10s. In 1994 I considered a pair of
D.Q.30is for purchase but some how waited
and ended up with a pair of D.Q.32s while
trying to purchase a pair of 42s. In reviewing the 32s I feel they are a solid
sounding speaker system. They have some close trates of the 30is. They fall short
in my opinion in sound stage the DQ 10s which are far superior in that department also the 30is. The mids and highs seem as though they could have been balanced with the bass more closly, as the bass somewhat over powers the mids and highs. Of the three speakers although lacking some base in my opinion the D.Q.10s are superior the most balanced in range and fantastic in sound stage almost equal to Quads or some current electrostats.

This speaker has an airiness that envelops the listener. They have a very laid-back and musical presentation. They are so pleasant that many people with tinnitus (constant ringing of the ears) listen to nothing else. If you want the 'feeling' of maggies and imaging of electrostats, but are tired of how sharp and edgy they can be, these may be your rapture. They also have kick-you-in-the-chest base. I love this speaker.

Replacement drivers and woofer surrounds are still available at http://www.dahlquistspeakers.com.

If you have Dahlquist speakers you are willing to sell please contact me.

Smooth, smooth, smooth! These speakers were my favorites at the audio store that I used to work at. They have 2 10" ported woofers, a 5" mid, and a dome tweeter. The bass is full and rich, just right in larger rooms. It is nicely extended also. The mids and treble are super smooth, though a bit laid back in the upper midrange/lower treble. The imaging is very good though maybe not quite as sharp as the NHT 2.5's, but the soundstaging is very 3 dimensional. Excellent width and depth in the soundstage. There is a bit more cabinet resonance than I expect at this price, however. Good dynamics, though the demo pair had an annoying rattle coming from the outside of the mid enclosure, which rests on top of the woofer enclosure. That might be unique to the demo pair, so I won't consider it in the rating. I had to cram a folded piece of paper in the small gap to stop the rattle. Overall I fell in love with the smoothness and holographic soundstaging of these beauties.